Americans in Cuba during Obama's visit will be kicked out of the big hotels and sent to the beach - even though tourism is illegal

  • Major hotels in Havana are being cleared for the President's entourage
  • Visitors will be transferred to Varadero, a touristic hotspot with white-sand beaches and luxurious hotels
  • Tourism in Cuba is still illegal for Americans, who can only go for certain pre-approved reasons
  • Barack Obama will make a historic visit to the island on March 21 and 22

By Reuters and Clemence Michallon For Dailymail.com

Published: 13:43 EST, 3 March 2016 | Updated: 03:59 EST, 5 March 2016

Hotels in Havana are sending their American customers away to make room for the President's entourage later this month. 

Visitors from the US will be transferred to Varadero, tantalizingly close to a place US law effectively forbids them from visiting: the beach.

Obama will make his historic trip to the Communist-ruled Caribbean island on March 21 and 22 with hundreds of people in tow, crowning 15 months of warming relations after more than half a century of Cold War animosity.

Major Havana hotels are being cleared, according to the head of a US travel company who asked not to be identified for concern it would damage future business relations.

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Americans visiting Cuba later this month are being moved out of big hotels in Havana and transferred to Varadero (pictured), a touristic hotspot with white-sand beaches and stunning hotels

Americans visiting Cuba later this month are being moved out of big hotels in Havana and transferred to Varadero (pictured), a touristic hotspot with white-sand beaches and stunning hotels

'Just got notice that the Capri, Panorama, Nacional, half of Parque Central and potentially other hotels have been told to send all guests to Varadero from March 19 to 23,' he wrote in an e-mail.

Cuba is already experiencing a tourism boom and March is traditionally its busiest month. The Obama visit has put additional strain on hotels that have already been booked to capacity for much of the high season.

Varadero, an hour-drive east of Havana, is Cuba's most sought-after tourism destination, with sandy white beaches, shimmering waters and dozens of luxurious hotels.

But the beach is off limits to Americans as US restrictions expressly forbid tourism in Cuba. Americans are limited to 12 pre-authorized categories of travel, such as educational and cultural exchanges.

This means most US visitors are concentrated in Havana, where there are lots of cultural sites and activities, a rocky seafront and scarce hotel rooms.

Varadero (pictured) is one of Cuba's most sought-after destinations but US citizens cannot legally travel to the island solely for tourism. Their trip has to fit one of 12 pre-approved categories

Varadero (pictured) is one of Cuba's most sought-after destinations but US citizens cannot legally travel to the island solely for tourism. Their trip has to fit one of 12 pre-approved categories

President Barack Obama, pictured shaking hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at the United Nations in September last year, will crown 15 months of warming relations between the two countries with his visit

President Barack Obama, pictured shaking hands with Cuban President Raul Castro at the United Nations in September last year, will crown 15 months of warming relations between the two countries with his visit

'The Cuban government is clearing out Havana hotels and sending visiting U.S. groups to Varadero Beach for a long weekend,' said Collin Laverty, president of Cuban Educational Travel, which organizes authorized US travel groups.

'Tourism will be hard to avoid for a few days as U.S. visitors are surrounded by white sand, turquoise water and all you can eat and drink bars and buffets,' he added. 'But we will try.'

Cuban travel agencies were not immediately available for comment.

Following the US-Cuban detente announced by Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro in December 2014, American visits to Cuba soared 77 percent in 2015 to 161,000 visitors. Cuba is expecting a similar increase this year.

Obama, a Democrat, has loosened travel restrictions to the once-forbidden land as well as some other trade barriers.

But only Congress, currently controlled by Republicans, can lift the US embargo and its ban on tourism, in place since the early 1960s.

Big hotels in Havana such as the Panorama (pictured) are being cleared to make room for Obama and his entourage. The President will make a historic trip to the island on March 21 and 22

Big hotels in Havana such as the Panorama (pictured) are being cleared to make room for Obama and his entourage. The President will make a historic trip to the island on March 21 and 22

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